I thought this would make for an interesting and fun discussion . . . Who is you favourite Muslim personality, and why? To keep the discussion more diverse, try and mention names other than our Beloved Prophet Muhammad or the popular Sahaba . . . since we all know that they are well-loved and admired. And thus that is an obvious answer . . .

Also, by mentioning other names, this will increase our knowledge about Muslim personalities, which is an added bonus. I'll wait for other answers, meanwhile I'm drawing lots amongst my personal favourites.

Looking forward to your answers!

"O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young."

As its called, "The Book of Saladin" is the fictional memoir of Salahuddin by Tariq Ali. I dont think it will be a good read, especially when its fiction about a famous historical figure. I learnt a lot about him from history books and was surprised to see the respect he got not only from his contemporary rivals but also from modern historians. Did you know that he and Richard the Lionheart were like buddies (in a knightly way), that Richard offered his daughter in wedlock to Saladin's brother (i hope my memory is right). And its said that in Venice, Saladin was well known that kids were named after him.

Umar bin Abdul Aziz was an Ummayad caliph and a great grandson of Umar bin khattab. I think these links will give some details.

Richard and Salahuddin had cordial/polite relations . . .true, but they werent exactly 'buddies' :p . Thats because both were intelligent men, that realised that a truce b/w the two parties would be more fruitful than warfare. Also, because both of them respected the other as a respectable/equal adversary . . . they appreciated the other's qualities. But I think both had such a strong faith in thier ideological purpose, that they could never have been buddies :)

Though there is a lot of good about Salahuddin out there, by nonmuslim historians, some have still slandered him or shown him in a negative light. They will even go so far as to take his very obvious good-deeds, and taint them!

For example, I'm sure you've heard of the famous horse incident b/w Sallahuddin and Richard, when he offered one of his stallions to Richard, whos horse died during battle ; I was recently reading a book 'Romance and Legend of Chivalry' by A.R.Hope Moncrieff - and in it he mentions authors that depict the incident in a tainted way:

"Saladin...., fiegning a desire for fair play, sends his adversary a marvellous charger, a gift not of generous courtesy but of pagan cunning, for this horse is foal to the Sultan's own steed, of diabolical breed, trained to lie down as soon as it hears its mother's neigh, thus putting its rider at the mercy of his foe. But through the night Richard is visited by an angel, who discloses the Moslem guile, which the Christian hero can baffle by stopping that horse's ears with wax; so ofcourse Saladin was duly set to flight for all his treachery...'

later in the rhyme, the author mentions that Richard took on 25 of the Saracens in battle, and defeated them, this so appalled the Saracens that they decide to go for a truce.

"O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young."

Subhanallah! I just read about Umar bin Abdal Aziz . . . the second link was very informative! His life is very humbling and admirable! deeply moving . . . I loved the short bio. He is definitely one of my favorites now too! Jazakallah for the link.

"O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young."

I've noticed Hajjaj Bin Yusuf's name pop up now and then, that too in a negative light. I didnt know he was a cruel man! Is this the same Hajjaj, who was the uncle of Muhammad Bin Qasim, the conquerer of the subcontinent?

If so, then the history books have always portrayed him as a just ruler! wow. . . interesting . . .

"O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young."

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